Barcelona's Backline Dilemma: Flick Weighs Cancelo as Defensive Reinforcement
4 January 2026
Why Barcelona Hesitates to Strengthen the Defense
Barcelona remains cautious about bolstering the back line during the winter window as Christensen's injury tests the depth, and no final call has been made yet.
Barça coach Hans Flick has stressed the need to reinforce the defense, but any move must be carefully considered.
The Cancelo Factor: Talent versus Salary Cap
Among the names on the table, Joao Cancelo, recently with Al Hilal, has signaled a desire to return to Barcelona, unhappy with life in Saudi Arabia.
Yet the deal faces a clear financial hurdle: Marca reports Cancelo earns around 17 million euros per year, a salary Barça cannot absorb under its cap, especially with Christensen's wage ceiling at 80 percent of his own figure.
Flick prefers signing a central defender over a right-back, even though Cancelo could offer multiple defensive options, leaving the club cautious for now.
Barcelona is unlikely to rush, with a window until the 14th to send the medical report to La Liga and activate the signing process.
Nothing will be decided hastily; the squad's depth remains under inspection while the club evaluates budget and strategic fit.
Punchline 1: If Barça signs Cancelo, the defense will finally stop leaking—though the salary cap may start coughing up data.
Punchline 2: Timing is everything in football; if this deal lands by the 14th, Barca might finally discover what a real back line feels like, one that doesn’t ghost the goalposts.
